Swing dock

ABSTRACT

One example embodiment is a swing dock. The swing dock includes a floating platform, a plurality of mounting means and a fastening means. The floating platform includes a frontal end and a tailing end which is positioned behind the frontal end. The width of frontal end is shorter than the width of the tailing end. The plurality of mounting means are provided on the floating platform to allow a marine craft to be secured adjacent to one mooring side of the swing dock. The fastening means is provided at a leading side of the floating platform which is adjacent to the frontal end. The fastening means allows the platform to be secured to a securing structure when in use such that the marine craft and the swing dock can swing in unison under windy conditions to minimize wind force.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for mooring.

BACKGROUND

Typically, marine crafts are moored in marinas or on swing moorings.Conventionally, swing moorings are known as simple or single-pointmoorings. A swing mooring includes a single anchor at the bottom of awaterway with a mooring chain connecting to a marine buoy on the watersurface. The marine buoy allows a marine craft to be attached. A marinecraft attached to the marine buoy swings in a circle to face theprevailing wind or tide direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the light of the foregoing background, a mooring and method ormooring are provided.

One example embodiment is a swing dock. The swing dock includes afloating platform with a boarding surface, a plurality of mounting meansand a fastening means. The boarding surface includes a length-wisedimension and a width-wise dimension. The length-wise dimension includesa frontal end and a trailing end positioned behind the frontal end. Theends of the width-wise dimension delineate edges of the boardingsurface. The width of the frontal end is shorter than the width of thetrailing end. The plurality of mounting means are provided on thefloating platform, and positioned so that at least one of the edgesallow a marine craft to be secured adjacent to one mooring side of theswing dock. The fastening means is provided at a leading side of thefloating platform adjacent to the frontal end to allow the platform tobe secured to a securing structure when in use such that the marinecraft and the swing dock can swing in unison under windy conditions tominimize the wind force.

The above example embodiment has benefits and advantages overconventional technology. For example, the example embodiment enablesmooring of two marine crafts abreast within the same circular swingarea, where conventional method only allows one single marine craft tobe moored. As such, the number of marine crafts accommodated in a givenwater area increases.

Another advantage of the example embodiment is that the wind force tothe moored marine craft is minimized because the swing dock togetherwith one or two moored marine crafts form a shape of an arrow head thatwould point toward the wind to minimize windage, thereby minimizingexposure of the moored marine craft from wind and waves.

Yet another advantage of the example embodiment is that when two marinecrafts are secured at each mooring side of the swing dock, the trailingend provides an essential separation that prevents any part of the twomarine crafts bumping into each other, even under tossing conditions.The separation also allows easy boarding and alighting from the mooredmarine craft, thereby the safety of the sailors and passengers isimproved.

Other example embodiments are discussed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a swing dock in accordance with anexample embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a swing dock in accordance with anexample embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of a swing dock in accordance with an exampleembodiment with two marine crafts moored, one at each mooring side.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a swing dock in accordance with an exampleembodiment with two marine crafts moored, one at each mooring side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein and in the claims, “comprising” means including thefollowing elements but not excluding others.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a swing dock 100 in accordance withan example embodiment. The swing dock 100 includes a floating platform110 with a boarding surface 120, a plurality of mounting means 160, anda fastening means 170. The boarding surface 120 includes a length-wisedimension 130 and a width-wise dimension 132. The length-wise dimension130 includes a frontal end 140 and a trailing end 142 positioned behindthe frontal end 140. The width of the frontal end 140 is shorter thanthe width of the trailing end 142. The ends of the width-wise dimension132 delineates the edges 150, 152 of boarding surface 120. The pluralityof mounting means 160 are mounted on both edges 150 and 152 of thefloating platform 110 to allow a marine craft to be secured adjacent toone of the mooring sides 144 of the swing dock 100 and allow two marinecraft to be secured to the swing dock 100, one marine craft of eachmooring side 144 of the swing dock 100. The fastening means 170 ismounted at a leading side 147 of the floating platform 110 adjacent tothe frontal end 140 to allow the platform 110 to be secured to asecuring structure when in use such that the marine craft and the swingdock 100 can swing in unison thereby minimizing exposure of the mooredmarine craft from wind and waves.

By way of example, the plurality of mounting means 160 are provided onthe floating platform 110. By way of example, the mounting means 160 areprotrusions or holes of the boarding surface 120. Each mounting means160 can secure a fastening end of a mooring line that connects to amarine craft.

By way of example, the trailing end 142 is not necessarily be at thehindmost part of the floating platform 110. By way of example, thetrailing end 142 have an extension such that the trailing end 142 isbetween the frontal end 140 and the extension.

By way of example, the plurality of mounting means 160 are positionedalong the two opposing edges 150, 152 to allow one marine craft to besecured adjacent to one mooring side 144 of the swing dock 100.

By way of example, the fastening means 170 is provided at a leading side147 of the floating platform 110 adjacent to the frontal end 140. By wayof example, the fastening means 170 is a protrusion or a hole of thefloating platform 110. The fastening means 170 can secure a fasteningend of a mooring chain that connects to a mooring buoy or a mooringblock or a sinker which is at the center of the circle for swingmoorings.

By way of example, the floating platform 110 is a composite componentthat allows the swing dock 100 to float on water.

By way of example, the floating platform 110 includes a block with acavity and a floating component positioned inside the body. The floatingcomponent allows the swing dock 100 to float on water. By way ofexample, the block is made of concrete and the floating component ismade of polymer.

By way of example, the boarding surface 120 of the floating platform 110is around 40 cm above the water when in use.

By way of example, the length-wise dimension 130 is a transversedirection and the width-wise dimension 132 is a longitudinal direction,wherein the transverse direction is perpendicular to the longitudinaldirection.

By way of example, the length-wise dimension 130 of the swing dock 100is around 5 to 20 meters to suit size of moored craft.

By way of example, the width of the trailing end 142 is wide enough toallow two marine crafts moored at each mooring side 144 of the swingdock 100 to be secured without any part of the marine crafts bumpinginto each other even under tossing conditions.

By way of example, the boarding surface 120 provides enough space fordocking box storage.

By way of example, the boarding surface 120 provides enough space forpeople boarding on and alighting from a moored marine craft.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a swing dock 200 in accordance withanother example embodiment. The swing dock 200 includes a floatingplatform 210, a plurality of mounting means 260, a fastening means 270,a light emitting element 280, a mooring chain 272 and mooring blocks274.

By way of example, the fastening means 270 is a pad eye which isconnected with the mooring chain 272 by a swivel. The mooring chain 272further attached to the mooring blocks 274 which located at the bottomof a waterway and resists movement with sheer weight. The floatingplatform 210 floats on the surface and allows one or two marine craftsto be attached with it. The mooring blocks 274 and floating platform 210allow the moored marine crafts swing in a circle to face the prevailingwind or tide direction thereby minimizing exposure of the moored marinecraft from wind and waves.

By way of example, the light emitting element 280 is mounted on thesurface of the floating platform 210 by a pole to provide illuminationso that other vessels are aware of the floating platform in instanceswhen no marine craft are moored.

By way of example, the light emitting element 280 is mounted on thesurface of the floating platform 210 by a pole to provide illuminationfor the people, especially when boarding on or alighting from the mooredmarine crafts, thereby enhancing safety for the people.

FIG. 3 shows a swing dock 310 in accordance with an example embodimentbut with two marine crafts moored at each mooring side to show how thedock of this example can be used. Two marine crafts 390 and 392 aremoored at each side of a swing dock 310. The swing dock 310 is connectedwith a mooring block sinker 374 at the bottom of a waterway. The swingdock 310 and two moored marine crafts 390 and 392 form as a shape of anarrow head. The shape of arrow ensures the marine crafts 390, 392together with the swing dock 310 have minimum windage when face towardthe wind and the tide, and swing around the mooring block sinker 374.This minimizes the exposure of the swing dock 310 and the marine crafts390 and 392, from wind and waves.

The example embodiment creates positive pressure of the marine craft tomoor and allows two marine crafts with dissimilar windage to face intothe wind. The positive pressure forces the marine crafts 390 and 392 tomove towards the swing dock 310 in windy weather, which will certainlyreduce the tension on the mooring lines, so that the service life of themooring lines is extended. The circle 330 shows the estimated swing pathof the swing dock 310 and moored marine crafts 390 and 392 in waterway.Conventionally, a single marine craft is attached to a mooring buoy bythe mooring chain. The single marine swings around the mooring buoy as acircle and occupy the same space within the circle 330. The exampleembodiment increases the number of marine crafts accommodated in a givenwater area.

By way of example, the ratio of the shortest width of the frontal end(A) and the longest width (B) of the trailing end is around 2:3.

By way of example, when one marine craft 390 is moored at the swing dock310, the minimal frontal area of the swing dock exposed to the wind andwaves would mean the marine craft 390 would face toward the wind so thatthe wind force to the moored marine craft 390 is minimized.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a swing dock 410 in accordance with anexample embodiment with two marine crafts moored at each mooring side.Two marine crafts 490 and 492 are moored at each mooring side 414 of aswing dock 410. A plurality of mounting means 460 are provided on bothedges of swing dock 410 to allow the marine craft 490 and 492 to besecured adjacent to the mooring sides 414 respectively by a plurality ofmooring lines 462. By way of example, the mounting means 460 include aplurality of cleats mounted on the floating platform, wherein theplurality of the cleats are positioned at the frontal end and thetrailing end that allow connection to the marine craft such that lengthsof the marine crafts are accommodated at the mooring sides 414 of theswing dock 410. By way of example, the mounting means 460 include aplurality of mooring lines, each mooring line 462 includes two fasteningends that allow a fixation of one of the cleats at one fastening end 478and a fixation of the marine craft at another fastening end 476.

By way of example, the plurality of mooring lines 462 are attached tothe bow, and stern of the marine craft to provide a secure connectionbetween the swing dock and the marine craft in variable conditions ofwind and weather.

By way of example, the swing dock 410 further includes cleats 464, 466mounted in the hindmost part of the swing dock 410 to secure a dinghythat allows boarding and alighting of people. The landing position forthe dinghy is more stable at the hindmost part of the swing dock thanthe leading side of the swing dock under windy weather, thus the safetyof people is improved.

By way of example, the swing dock 410 is wider aft to allow boarding andalighting of people from a water taxi or a sampan or a dinghy on to theswing dock directly rather than from the vessel. Under windy weather,the safety of people is improved.

By way of example, the swing dock 410 further includes a plurality offenders 452. The plurality of fenders 452 are mounted on the floatingplatform of the swing dock 410 to provide a soft contact between theswing dock and the marine craft. By way of example, the fenders 452 ismade of rubber or other soft materials.

The methods in accordance with example embodiments are provided asexamples, and examples from one method should not be construed to limitexamples from another method. Further, methods discussed withindifferent figures can be added to or exchanged with methods in otherfigures. Further yet, specific numerical data values (such as specificquantities, numbers, categories, etc.) or other specific informationshould be interpreted as illustrative for discussing exampleembodiments. Such specific information is not provided to limit exampleembodiments. For example, the ratio of the width of the frontal end andtrailing end is not needed to be fixed and 2:3, there are other possibleratio which could meet the requirement for separating the mooring marinecrafts from bumping into each other. For example, the material of theblock and floating component of the swing dock is not limited toconcrete and polymer respectively, and could be other materials whichcould provide similar functions.

As used herein, a “leading side” is an adjacent side of the swing dockof the example embodiment that connects to a mooring block or sinkerwhich is at the center of the circle for swing moorings.

A used herein, a “mooring side” is an adjacent side of the swing dock ofthe example embodiment that allows a marine craft to be moored abreastsuch that a length of the marine craft is approximately parallel to thelength-wise dimension of the swing dock of the example embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A swing dock comprising: a floating platform witha boarding surface, the boarding surface comprising a length-wisedimension and a width-wise dimension, the length-wise dimensioncomprising a frontal end and a trailing end positioned behind thefrontal end, ends of the width-wise dimension delineating edges of theboarding surface, a width of the frontal end is shorter than a width ofthe trailing end; a plurality of mounting means provided on the floatingplatform positioned at at least one of the edges to allow a marine craftto be secured adjacent to one mooring side of the swing dock; and afastening means provided at a leading side of the floating platformadjacent to the frontal end to allow the platform to be secured to asecuring structure when in use such that the marine craft and the swingdock can swing in unison under windy conditions to minimize wind andwave force.
 2. The swing dock of claim 1, wherein mounting means areprovided on both edges of the floating platform to allow two marinecrafts to be secured to the swing dock, one of each mooring side of theswing dock.
 3. The swing dock of claim 1, wherein the width trailing endis wide enough to provide stability of the swing dock and to allow twomarine crafts moored at each mooring side of the swing dock to besecured without any part of the marine crafts bumping into each othereven under tossing conditions.
 4. The swing dock of claim 1, wherein,the mounting means further comprising: a plurality of cleats mounted onthe floating platform; a plurality of mooring lines, each mooring linecomprises two fastening ends that allow a fixation of one of the cleatsat one fastening end and a fixation of the marine craft at anotherfastening end; wherein the plurality of the cleats are positioned at thefrontal end and the trailing end that allow connection to the marinecraft such that a length of the marine craft is accommodated at themooring side of the swing dock.
 5. The swing dock of claim 1, whereinthe floating platform comprises a composite that allows the swing dockto float on water.
 6. The swing dock of claim 1, wherein the floatingplatform comprises a block with a cavity and a floating componentpositioned inside the cavity, wherein the floating component allows theswing dock to float on water, the block is made of concrete and thefloating component is made of polymer.
 7. The swing dock of claim 1,wherein the floating platform comprises a plurality of fenders mountedon the floating platform to provide a soft contact between the swingdock and the marine craft.